Google voice doesn’t get my number

For a virtual number service, Google Voice seems to be an enormous amount of press these days.

Maybe because its Google. Or even because the VoIP industry has been rather light on news of further innovation. Perhaps it’s just because people love free stuff.

Regardless, Google Voice continues to gain favor with more than just daring daters and marriage haters. But I’m not sure why.

Sure, I’ve got an account. Yes I’ve used the service. However, I’m still not sold.

Google Voice may do everything that a virtual number service you have to pay for does. Except free communication services don’t have exactly have a great track record of being around for the long term.

This is especially troubling when consider that Google Voice wants to be the one number you give out for all your mobile communications.

Imagine all of a sudden your one number disappears because it “no longer fits into the long term vision” or “is no longer profitable.” Worse yet, what happens if Google Voice truly becomes a tremendous success and Google decides to charge for what was once free?

User revolt, I’m sure.

Unfortunately that will only go so far. They’ve got YOUR number. Your one number.

You know, the one you gave to everyone.

Yes there are downfalls to free. Especially free communications services.

So unless you’re a daring dater, marriage hater or someone in need of a quick DID fix, I’d be wary to quickly accept the gospel of Google Voice greatness.

That of course, is just my opinion. What’s yours?

Damian Kashino

July 30th, 2009 at 12:35 am

Google is one of the most respected if not the most respected website and/or search engine on internet. They have never advertised or sent you spam. What makes you think that all of a sudden they are just going to start charging for a service they provide when its always been free? What makes you think they are just going to cancel a service they provide? What happens to their reputation after that?

Garrett Smith

July 30th, 2009 at 12:42 am

@ Damian

It’s true that Google is a respected company. But voice service is not their core competency.

Search and online contextual advertising is. When push comes to shove, non-core business units get cut…or worse underfunded.

Eventually they rot and die.

On the flip side, as I pointed out, if Google Voice “gets huge” (whatever that means), the monetization mavens will eventually want to drive revenue and gross profit growth through it.

Remember, nothing is really free. And when it comes to voice and other communications services, I’d much rather pay than wonder “what.”

July 30th, 2009 at 1:07 am

So what if voice service isn’t their core product? A lot of companies expand into other products and other directions. Obviously they do this to make money. But if its free? If its the same quality as everything else google does there will be companies lining up to advertise through it in some way. There’s your revenue, there’s your profit. Would it make sense to underfund any google prduct?

Dave Michels

July 30th, 2009 at 1:33 am

A couple of points Garrett.

Whenever I feel really good about something, I get suspicious. So I agree with some of your points. However,

Nothing is a sure thing. There are more VoIP providers that have gone out than are still around. I was betting on Level(3) about five years ago until they shut down their hosted service.

But Google does currently support number porting OUT. I am sure they would allow enough time if they decided to shut down or make it a payable service, but there is some risk there.

But I think the product/service is more significant than you give credit. It isn’t just a virtual number. It has ties to cell phones (not iPhone, and email Contacts, and potentially quite a few more Google apps in the future. It also attacks the wireless monopoly on SMS and intl LD. Plus not giving out your cell number, means you can drop and add new cell services without paying loyalty taxes.

Nor do I expect it io be only a free consumer grade service.

Time will tell.

bob sfog

July 30th, 2009 at 6:43 am

you said the main thing. “nothing is really free”
what will be the cost?
the cost is that robot lisen to all your call and sky is the limit! and free customer sign that they agree to that!
(your call transfer to text then from the content they will spam you with ad in the google mail client… for example. i can give few more but you can see my point…)

July 30th, 2009 at 10:33 am

Google will eventually monetize Google Voice by bundling it with their Google Apps suite, allowing businesses to control all their phone lines along with email, chat, and productivity apps. The core service will remain free for consumer use, just as Gmail or Docs are today. This is how Google has always done things.

Mark

November 10th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

Google has a rich history of providing free services, and then monetizing them through ad insertion, or by providing a richer set of features than the original free set, for a charge. They’ve done this with the original Google Search, GMail, Google Docs, YouTube and a variety of other services. I have yet to see a single situation with Google products where your scenario plays out. And the paranoia you approach Google with, is equally (and arguably more) applicable to any company as the acquisitions and directional changes of corporate America take place across the board, particularly with the small companies that populate this industry.

I see no reason to presume that Google will suddenly take a different tack and screw their public reputation by doing what you say. Unlike many of the smaller vendors, they certainly don’t need to do it for money!

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